Page 46 - May-June-2017

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take center stage

at Techtextil
USDA Biobased certification Around 70 Italian machinery manufacturers are

slated to take part in the upcoming edition of
extended to Lenzing Viscose® Techtextil Frankfurt, the world’s largest industry
event for technical textiles; a number that has
and Lenzing Modal® grown over the years, and a testament to the
interest Italy’s textile machinery sector places in the
technical and innovative textiles market.

In recent years, the technical and innovative textiles
industry has seen a great deal of development in
many markets, and especially in Europe, where
over 30% of revenue in the textile industry derives
from the production of textiles for technical and
innovative applications.

Demand for such products has consequently also
driven a demand for ad hoc machinery specifically
designed for this sector. The offering promoted by
Italy’s textile machinery industry is thus expanding
to the new demands of customers operating in this
specific sector. ACIMIT estimates that more than
100 of its member companies are now working in
this sector.

Robert van de Kerkhof – CCO, Stefan Doboczky – CEO, Thomas Obendrauf – CFO (LtoR) A testament to the dynamism that characterizes
the Italian textile machinery industry in the technical
Lenzing Viscose® and Lenzing Modal® fibers and even compostable. Lenzing proves this with a textiles sector comes from the sheer number of
including all their product families were awarded the series of certificates Italian manufacturers who will be exhibiting in
Biobased Product Label granted by the U.S. (http://www.lenzing.com/en/responsibility/ecological-r Frankfurt at the upcoming Techtextil (9-12 May
Department of Agriculture (USDA). The prestigious esponsibility/eco-labelsawards.html). 2017). Indeed, around 70 Italian textile machinery
certification is further proof that all standard types of companies will be present in Germany. Of these,
fibers produced by Lenzing are fully derived from the Accordingly, Lenzing is in tune with the growing trend 25 companies will be exhibiting in the exhibition
natural and renewable raw material wood. The towards ecology and sustainability. Global customers area organized by the Italian Trade Agency and
company’s Lyocell fiber TENCEL® has already been in the textile and nonwovens industry are increasingly ACIMIT (Hall 3.0, Booth B08-B10). These
certified as 100 percent biobased content since 2011. turning to raw materials which do not unnecessarily companies are all ACIMIT associated members:
Lenzing FR® has now also been certified as 99 harm the environment when they are produced or 4M Plants, Beschi, Bianco, Bombi, Bonino,
percent biobased. The residual amount is for material disposed of. Canalair, Carù, Cogne, Cubotex, Dell’orco & Villani,
used to make the fiber fire-resistant. Etv, Fadis, Mesdan, Monti-Mac, Noseda, Pmt
BioPreferred program Ribbons, Ratti, Rollmac, Sariel, Saspe, Sicam,
Natural cycle The certification of biobased products is part of the Textape, Toscana Spazzole, Unitech, Zappa.
Even more, Lenzing fibers are not only derived 100 BioPreferred program implemented by the USDA. It is
percent from nature, but they are also returned to designed to motivate government institutions and However, the Italian companies present in
nature at the end of their life cycle. Standard Lenzing companies to purchase biobased products or those Germany represent only a part, albeit significant, of
fibers are demonstrably 100 percent biodegradable which largely consist of biological materials. manufacturers in Italy producing machinery for
technical textiles and nonwovens.